National Forum

Great U21 Players Who Never Made Longterm Senior Impact Both Codes - Last 30 Years

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Did Sean "Growler" Daly of Wateford have a long senior career...he was on the U21 team in 1992..I remember him playing a few senior games I think but not too many..then I suppose there was no back door until 1997 I think so Waterford would have only had one championship game a year probably in those days and the league after that...many of that U21 team went on to be great seniors...some too fell through the gaps..anyone want to remind us any?

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 387 - 21/05/2020 16:16:58    2278924

Link

concannon of galway was a outstanding underage player and was probably more highly thought of then michael donnellan and padraig joyce at that time at underage
i dont think he ever played senior championship.

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1491 - 23/05/2020 13:22:38    2279053

Link

Replying To Fairplayalways:  "Did Sean "Growler" Daly of Wateford have a long senior career...he was on the U21 team in 1992..I remember him playing a few senior games I think but not too many..then I suppose there was no back door until 1997 I think so Waterford would have only had one championship game a year probably in those days and the league after that...many of that U21 team went on to be great seniors...some too fell through the gaps..anyone want to remind us any?"
Derek McGrath played 3 years at minor but didn't make an impact at senior level as far as I know, was on the panel from aged 20-22

wexico15 (Wexford) - Posts: 2602 - 23/05/2020 21:18:32    2279088

Link

Replying To OhtobeARossie:  "concannon of galway was a outstanding underage player and was probably more highly thought of then michael donnellan and padraig joyce at that time at underage
i dont think he ever played senior championship."
yeah, forgot about him, he was an awesome player...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 387 - 25/05/2020 19:43:45    2279186

Link

Finbarr Delaney of Cork played inter county minor hurling 3 years from 1972 to 1974 and also on successive under 21 hurling teams. Only played 2 championship games in senior hurling for Cork in 1989. His son Damien played soccer for Ireland

Rockies (Cork) - Posts: 535 - 25/05/2020 22:55:00    2279193

Link

Replying To Rockies:  "Finbarr Delaney of Cork played inter county minor hurling 3 years from 1972 to 1974 and also on successive under 21 hurling teams. Only played 2 championship games in senior hurling for Cork in 1989. His son Damien played soccer for Ireland"
I remember Finbarr ok, never realised he was Damiens father...

Fairplayalways (Offaly) - Posts: 387 - 26/05/2020 10:29:49    2279212

Link

Another couple:

Barry O'Connell was a prodigious talent underage but never really carried form even to u21 level. He played in the 2011 classic Munster u21 final v Cork and was still playing u21 in 2015 when Limerick won the All Ireland. On the senior panel for a couple of years but never made a championship appearance that I'm aware of. His brother Darren is currently on the panel.

I'm open to correction but I think Patrick Collins from Cork played in goal for Cork for 5 years at the u21 grade, a serious achievement. Played a few league games this year but yet to dislodge Nash. I could be wrong but I think he has a few brothers that have also played in goal for Cork at different grades.

McFan88 (Limerick) - Posts: 421 - 27/05/2020 12:18:23    2279317

Link

Replying To McFan88:  "Another couple:

Barry O'Connell was a prodigious talent underage but never really carried form even to u21 level. He played in the 2011 classic Munster u21 final v Cork and was still playing u21 in 2015 when Limerick won the All Ireland. On the senior panel for a couple of years but never made a championship appearance that I'm aware of. His brother Darren is currently on the panel.

I'm open to correction but I think Patrick Collins from Cork played in goal for Cork for 5 years at the u21 grade, a serious achievement. Played a few league games this year but yet to dislodge Nash. I could be wrong but I think he has a few brothers that have also played in goal for Cork at different grades."
Ronan Lynch, brilliant u 21.. Really thought he was a certainty to play senior for limerick.

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 710 - 27/05/2020 15:50:01    2279328

Link

Replying To skillet:  "Ronan Lynch, brilliant u 21.. Really thought he was a certainty to play senior for limerick."
Was there any particular reason he didn't get going at county senior level anytime I seen him u21 or with na piarsaigh he looked to be a fantastic player and seemed to be very versatile playing in a number of different positions?

theyoungbuck89 (Galway) - Posts: 55 - 27/05/2020 16:16:52    2279329

Link

Replying To theyoungbuck89:  "Was there any particular reason he didn't get going at county senior level anytime I seen him u21 or with na piarsaigh he looked to be a fantastic player and seemed to be very versatile playing in a number of different positions?"
Good shout from Skillet, still not sure how he's not part of the panel at least. Stood out as one of the few performers for Na Piarsaigh in last years county final at CB, great striker of the ball.

McFan88 (Limerick) - Posts: 421 - 28/05/2020 10:28:31    2279373

Link

Replying To McFan88:  "Good shout from Skillet, still not sure how he's not part of the panel at least. Stood out as one of the few performers for Na Piarsaigh in last years county final at CB, great striker of the ball."
I heard some Limerick people mention workrate and commitment as a factor previously, but I have no idea if that's the case.
There are some requirements of every intercounty hurler now, regardless of how talented, particularly in a setup like Kiely's.
For example, I think Shane Dowling is the best striker of a ball among the current Limerick forwards and probably the most naturally gifted of them. Yet, he's not a regular starter, which I'm assuming are for physical reasons. I think he'd be the main forward on the team if the physical demands were the same as any previous era. He's some man to be able to bring off the bench though.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 875 - 28/05/2020 12:24:55    2279379

Link

Replying To skillet:  "Ronan Lynch, brilliant u 21.. Really thought he was a certainty to play senior for limerick."
He looked the real deal underage and at club level without a doubt. As far as I know he was in the with limerick footballers?

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 979 - 28/05/2020 12:33:02    2279380

Link

Replying To theyoungbuck89:  "Yeah Wade never really delivered on all his underage and club form was unstoppable at time's early in his career never got going at senior level! Daly Had knee and hip issues I think I've no doubt he would of made a good number of senior appearances otherwise had a great engine and was very good driving forward with the ball was captain the u21 team that won the all Ireland in 2011! Galway unfortunately have had. Lot of players who fit into this category down through the years."
IIRC it was Wade's own decision. He was invited on a few different occasions to join the senior panel but only wanted to play club and found other activities in his life of more interest to him than giving an all consuming commitment to the county.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1448 - 28/05/2020 12:52:28    2279383

Link

Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "IIRC it was Wade's own decision. He was invited on a few different occasions to join the senior panel but only wanted to play club and found other activities in his life of more interest to him than giving an all consuming commitment to the county."
That's a pity. I suppose you can't blame a lad either, its a full time job really.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 979 - 28/05/2020 14:59:24    2279386

Link

Replying To OhtobeARossie:  "concannon of galway was a outstanding underage player and was probably more highly thought of then michael donnellan and padraig joyce at that time at underage
i dont think he ever played senior championship."
He was unmarkable at minor. Amazing talent a year or two older than Joyce and M. Donnellan if memory serves me right.

bugsie (Leitrim) - Posts: 197 - 10/06/2020 10:32:52    2280252

Link

Alan Nestor without a doubt for Meath

Selwyn (Meath) - Posts: 195 - 10/06/2020 10:53:41    2280257

Link

Timmy Houlihan from Limerick he played Under 21 for 5 years but never really made did it at seinor. But was a strange time for Limerick at the time at seinor level. Mark Keane from that time as well.

Declan Quill from Kerry. Very good underage and in the league but just missed something to make it at championship level.

Michael Tierney from Laois looked good but was gone afaik very young. Donie Brennan another who finisehd up very young

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 402 - 10/06/2020 11:11:11    2280261

Link